Aptly nicknamed, Polystichum acrostichoides, commonly called Christmas Fern, is a favorite
evergreen
fern everyone loves to place in patches throughout their gardens.
Its
lanceolate
emerald fronds are divided and leathery with hardy, holly-like leaflets and
edible
silvery spring-time fiddleheads.

Typically, it grows in fountain-like
clumps
with the fronds sprouting out of a solitary crown which, over the years, makes a very large, dense mound.

Christmas Fern shows her foliage off when she is used as a
borders,
edging and along foundations or walls.
Difficult spaces with little soil don't intimidate this fern and you'll be surprised at how adaptable and willing to grow she is.

Edible
fiddleheads are considered a delicacy and have been named Vermont's state vegetable.
Try cooking these delightful vegetables by simply harvesting when about two inches from the ground and still tightly rolled.
Treat them as you would asparagus or try them in quiches and soups. Delicious!

Christmas Fern is a Missouri
native
found in ravines and on humid banks and wooded slopes.

The common name "Christmas Fern" comes from its evergreen nature and its past use as Christmas decoration; its
pinnae
even resemble small Christmas stockings.

Gardener Tips
With her
slow
to
moderate
growth rate, Christmas Fern grows very little in the first season.
Consider purchasing more plants initially for quicker coverage with the bonus of being able to divide her after a few years.

Polystichum acrostichoides' fronds are often used in flower arrangements.

This fern will not disappoint you in a rock garden coupled with such beauties as
Creeping Jenny.
to blanket the ground and Lavender for vivid contrasts in texture and colors of foliage.
Add
Coral Bells
to soften the garden and provide lovely flower spikes.

If you are considering purchasing this plant in bare root form,
please read
about bare root plants
so you know what to expect.

General information about Ferns:
When gardeners and landscape designers are looking for a dramatic, vibrant spray of color and foliage, they will often consider ferns for their project.
In addition to sweeping texture and lush greenery, ferns work wonderfully as independent or companion perennials.

Perfect in mass plantings where they create the feeling of a field of grass swaying gently in soft breezes, ferns are also delightful as
borders
where they stand like shapely chartreuse soldiers at the edges of garden beds.
Then again, when used as accents, in single plantings, or clusters amidst a rock garden, you have a moving work of willowy art.

But what to choose?
You’ll be pleased to know that after more than 40 years of experimenting with various ferns, we have compiled a selection of the easiest to grow and hardiest ferns.Essentially, we’ve narrowed the list down for you, so you can select from our varieties with confidence.
A bonus with our ferns is that all, except
Japanese Painted Fern
and
Japanese Shield Fern
are
native to the United States.

Selections like
Christmas Fern
are wonderful
erosion control
options.
With some ferns being
evergreen
and some semi-evergreen, you are sure to find the option that works wonderfully for your garden.
Be sure to check each plant's Description tab for details.

These bare root ferns came well packaged.
I planted them a couple of days after delivery, and all of them were still moist and healthy.
They are healthy and survived the planting well.
Unlike some bare root plants, these had good sized roots and were easy... Read full review >

Ferns have delicate foliage that often suffers during shipment and transplanting. Cut off any foliage that is broken, bent, brown or yellow - the plants will quickly recuperate with fresh growth. Bare root ferns are particularly prone to foliage loss, it is not uncommon to have to cut them off at ground level when transplanting. As long as the roots are firm they will recover, showing new growth within weeks during warm months.